Anyone here have access to CR's website (Consumer Reports), and can share with us why CR has removed MINI from its "Recommended" list?

2- and 3-series are recommended. What with all the common bits and systems MINI shares with them, it makes me very curious what knocked them off.

TIA,

 

I have a feeling all the motors (and bearings) they replaced had something to do with it.

 

Not on my F56, they didn't. I haven't had a single thing wrong with mine.

 

Who knows. Sometimes it's a survey about "problems people have with their new cars", stuff like it's hard to figure out the entertainment system controls. Sometimes its long term reliability which doesn't apply to the Gen 3 cars. I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

 

Fir years it was listed due to high satisfaction numbers, evening though reliability was often "fair" and even poor . Not really surprised....look at the number if MAJOR recalls and nagging $$ issues....
Sad.... but MINI has done it to themselves.

 

Could be rattles, bluetooth issues, or other things that don't leave you stranded but annoy people enough to complain. I was surprised when Car & Driver complained about the location of the headlight switch. On their long-term car test, they actually wasted space talking about that. Learn where it is ONCE, and then you know. Or...set it to AUTO and never use it again. Point is, some people complain about stupid stuff too which CR might take into account.

 

Be interesting to see the answer from a subscriber instead of WAG answers.

 

No one buys a Mini based purely on objective facts as the criteria anyways. It's a lifestyle car. CR never captures that.

So if you want the facts, we all know the F56 is the best Mini ever made and no other car compares. Especially Dark Blue ones, everyone knows it.

 

just wondering that the recent bad motor bearings, timing tensioner/chain, etc. will hurt the resale value less turning away possible 2nd hand buyers. As for us we've read the problems associated with the 2.0 turbo but we still wanted the mini plant. Just worried 3 years down the line putting it up for sale not wanting to own it after the 4 year warranty's up. I don't know. lol

I mentioned to our salesman of the motor problems I've read of, while ordering our Mini and he stated you gotta change the oil and why some have problems with the motor. Basically saying poor maintenance. Then I questioned of other problems he'd heard of with the Mini and he came back with, you have the 4 year warranty/3 year maintenance if you have any problems. lol. Yikes!
I've seen the youtube clip of the new automated plant assembling the Mini's in which I was in awe of it. But I got to thinking in some aspects of the build the human assembler has a limited time to install his/her part. I'm thinking depending on variables, human error, assembler not in a good mood or maybe partially sick or whatever reason I could think of could do a Rush Job getting the part assembled in the alloted time. Yikes! Being all that said it's not only on Mini as I would assume a lot of other manufacturers goes thru the same process building their vehicles too.

 

Wait... when did MINI get onto the Consumer Reports recommended list? I thought CR had pretty consistently, and quite justifiably, warned off anybody from buying any MINI ever!

I love my MINI but I wouldn't recommend one to the classic, play-it-safe Consumer Reports subscriber. You have to buy it expecting problems and be of a mindset to be pleasantly surprised if you don't.

 

For years they said owners loved the cars....we did, and if you were willing to put up with a few more issues, it might be worthwhile...so inspite of iffy mechanical issues, they said folks are still happy....
It seems with the 3rd gen cars, to be more "acceptable" from a ratings standpoint MINI dialed down the fun (imo) and made the cars more mainstream....result has been lower sales, and less satisfaction....people are less willing to overlook faults like in prior years, just because the product is not THAT different from others on the market....in past years it WAS VERY different...but in making it more mainstream....folks expect mainstream reliability...no "engine changee...yeah..bad bearings...or timing chains"......oh yeah...then 3 or 4 recalls...on a NEW CAR.. nevermind used...
Worldwide they sell more...the MacDonald's effect....folks buy cars cause they can to experience it...to see why they heard so much....but SAME STORE, SAME DEALER sales in the USA have collapsed.....well...down about 4x the drops of other makes....and never saw the huge increases a few months ago....
Some blame gasoline costs....but reality is... MINI says it's a "premium" car being sold to folks who might not care if they spent $35 or $50 to fill up the car...but reality is, MINI is not really a small car...others get better MPG, or matches MINI with more space...
What is MINI selling...
FUN? lots of folks don't seem to car...some do...but certainly the experience is less visceral than past cars.
Style? Have not heard many folks loving it...it's different...but not tons of love letters.
Technology? Many others have tech like Apple play, and Android auto...other items in the cars are ok...but did MINI miss the boat on technology?
Economy?
1) It's a small car...gets fuel economy that cars much bigger do as a result of more power per pound and poor aerodynamics...but to get to the FUN, fuel mpg suffers...
2) historically high repair costs out if warrenty....
3) historically (started about 5 years ago) high loss of value..worse than average...was once the best...now try too sell an out of warrenty MINI...you butt will hurt for a week.
Sorry for the rant...
But I miss the MINI of old...
MINI changed who they want too sell too, and their cars....they are trying to make them a "lifestyle brand", where they sell a story....the "traders Joes" of cars...
Don't believe me? Read their press releases on motoring file, then look at the trader-joe's circular!!

 

I have yet to meet a single person who has taken the time to compliment my car, more than any car I ever owned, say too bad the F56 is like every other car and it lost its visceral appeal. Outside of Forum land people have a different view and the car is still very different from other offerings.

Fact is in general stats are showing the younger set which is getting older just don't care about cars as much. That is the biggest problem for every type of enthusiast car there is be it MINI or others. Cars are being more and more viewed as appliances to serve a purpose and car companies have to give in to survive.

 

3rdcoastmini/ZippyNH, We fit into both of your views/comments. "I" knew what I was getting into purchasing a Mini. Buying a new vehicle thru Rosie Glasses and now finally coming down off the high and dealing with what I knew from the start. We went into this knowing our ownership would be for 3 or so years. It doesn't meet our normal, economical car buy regiments of a reliable car to own after the warranty's up. I knew of the timing tensioner/chain problem in which Mini addressed going into the buy but only just recently read of the Bearings or motor replacement. Who knows what else will pop up? I could live with other recall problems but it's hard knowing the "heart" of the car, the motor is in question.
We are in our 60's and THIS is my wife's 1st new car purchase! "I'm" having buyers remorse setting in, lol. But can't find it in me, even to mention the thought of reneging on the buy lest the loss of the deposit. Yikes! It'd be the last straw if you will and at a ripe old age.

I rushed it, a Lease would may have been the way to go. Only time will tell of the resale value. Even if Mini does a very good job with the recall it will hurt the brand name imo. Sometimes the negative view stays with a product even if taken care of in a good way. It's like our Ford's, Fix Or Repair Daily motto but we have 2 in the 190k mile range, they had their usual problems but both still run pretty good and the fear of repair cost knowing we got our moneys worth, we wouldn't have a thought of spending thousands to fix it.

 

Just got word that the Clubman S All4 we built on Aug 10 has arrived at our SoCal dealer.
They were willing to build a $42K car for us and order it WITHOUT ANY $ or signatures from us. The Sales Manager said "We'll order the car and hope you will fall in love with it when it arrives."

Mini USA is putting $2,000 on the hood as a lease rebate plus offering 65% residual on a 36 month lease and in addition to negotiated discount the dealer throws in another $750, so the total discount we are looking at is over 5 grand, plus very sweet deal on tinting and a few other extras.

We have two 1980's-era Jags happily seeping in our garage, including a 12 cylinder that has all of the quirks and reliability issues that are lengendary for English cars.

So, we ain't scared of no Consumer Reports. We have lived with Lucifer electric, horns that honk or don't honk when they want, cylinder banks crapping out and dumping raw fuel into the cat. We're on a first name basis with the local towing company.

So, we're gonna go drive the new Clubman S All4 that was built to our aging boomer specs, and if we love it, we're taking the Mini plunge, CR be damned. Life's too short not to love what you drive!!

 

Just received an email from Mini. The New 2017 All New Mini Countryman and Countryman Plug in Hybrid is arriving in the Spring.

 

^^^^ Sure and the reason why we ordered our f55 Mini S. Just got an email from Mini the All New 2017 Countryman and Countryman Hybrid Plug In will be coming this Spring.

 

I like the Clubman S All 4 idea a LOT. And I still have people ask me "is that a Mini Cooper?" Which is cool, car looks different.

 

can't wait to get ahold of our Mini.

 

When the F56 first came out, I was wishing it really had more BMW DNA in it. Better build, (less rattles), materials, and better reliability. From what I have seen the only improvement is a better interior in almost all areas, and a softer ride (for those that like that).

MINI still is known for poor reliability- not just Consumer Reports, but major car magazines as well. I have been reading the MINI forums since 2009, and I have never seen such a general attitude of dislike on many threads. The outside design, the recalls, the larger size. Sure some people love their cars, but much more complaints than praise.

If only MINI would figure out what made their car popular in the first place, (small and great handling), and build a car that people could actually buy instead of lease because of all the issues (reliability and resale).

I know they can- the recent 3 series for example.

I would like my next car to be another MINI, but not until they figure out how to build a better car.

 

I certainly hope that extends to the Deep Blue Metallic ones. Just purchased a 2015 for my daughter and I'm looking for it to last her a very long time.

 

the new 3series is a turd

 

lol

 

Can't wait for our brand spanking new 2017 f55 to arrive. Chee Hew!

 

I wish it wasnt funny :( I've owned 25 bmw's, mostly 3 series. I'm keeping my 135i until they can make something better, I am unimpressed with the newer ones, definitely not getting my money until they get back to roots.

they are too big now, bloated & soft, the road feel is gone, steering numb, they dumbed them down for the masses. They even have engine sounds that play over the speakers now, and people actually like that! there's threads on the bmw forums explaining how to add sounds or change the sound files so they sound like a different engine.

dont get me started on the reliability on the new ones

 

I guess I did not get the memo, lol. I just bought a 160,000 mile twelve year old Mini! Just a fun toy to restore and have fun. I've also owned many cars that CR did not recommend or make the list because of their exclusiveness or not enough people buying a particular car to drum up enough surveys. Either way I have never let CR or any other consumer reports dictate what I should or should not by. If I would have, I probably would have never owned a Mini or most of the fun cars I've had. Cheers